New restaurants, bars open in Lexington from burgers to biscuits, tacos to tiki

After a slow start in 2023, Lexington’s restaurant scene has picked up steam over the summer, adding lots of new options for diners.

New openings offer everything from high-end hotel dining to ziplining over a gaming floor. You can go from tacos to tiki, biscuits to burgers as you eat your way through what’s new to town.

Some of the places that have opened this year are chains and some are as local as they come.

Here are more than a dozen new restaurants to check out if you haven’t tried them yet.

The Granddam and Lost Palm

The Manchester, a new boutique hotel near the corner of Manchester Street and Oliver Lewis Way, has a swanky 140-seat restaurant called The Granddam, which serves “elevated Appalachian specialties” such as braised wild boar ($45), rabbit ravioli ($38), tomato pie ($21) and a hoppin’ John empanada ($18).

Then on top of the hotel is Lost Palm indoor-outdoor rooftop bar with a lost Florida vibe — think upscale tiki, with a menu to match (the Seafood Tower with everything from smoked trout dip to ceviche is $175.) And the view includes cool murals on top of building next door.

The distillery district hotel opened in June and already has a lot of new fans online.

▪ Granddam is open for breakfast Friday-Sunday 7 to 11 a.m., for lunch daily 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for dinner daily 5 to 11 p.m.

▪ Lost Palm is open Sunday-Wednesday 4 to 11 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight.

▪ The Manchester, 941 Manchester St., themanchesterky.com, granddamky.com, lostpalmky.com

Old North Kitchen

Old North Bar in Greyline Station expanded to add lunch Thursday through Sunday and dinner seven days a week.

Owner Wes Hogan put in comfy booths, squashy couches and big tables for a casual atmosphere to enjoy a menu of “good classic pub fare,” including burgers, chicken sandwiches, brats, soups and salads and vegetarian options.

They also have live music, trivia, cornhole and weekly events with Greyline Station.

▪ Old North Bar and Kitchen, 101 W. Loudon Ave. Suite 116 in Greyline Station, open Monday-Wednesday 4 to 10 p.m. , Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Mexico Mi Amor

Mexico Mi Amor opened in May on North Limestone in the former location of Lucie’s Red Light Kitchen and Lounge. Restaurant owner Roxana Hernandez has a light and airy family-style place with garage doors that open into the bar and seating on a covered patio.

The Mexican food menu includes lots of favorites as well as authentic items such as Chilaquiles Verdes and Birria and daily specials. During happy hour from 2 to 5 p.m. you can get two-for-one margaritas as well.

▪ Mexico Mi Amor, 780 N. Limestone, open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Slim Chickens

This Arkansas-based chain opened its first Lexington location in June, with a second on the way on Richmond Road. It’s a fast-casual “better chicken” concept, with dine-in and drive-thru service and a menu featuring sandwiches, chicken tenders and wings.

Plus sides of fried pickles, mushrooms and okra. And a lineup of desserts in jars such as layered cheesecakes, as well as fried pies and cookies. And there are 17 dipping sauces so you can go nuts.

▪ Slim Chickens, 525 Waller Ave., open daily 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., slimchickens.com

Osha Thai Kitchen & Bar

In June, Nick Lagagsorn, the owner of Buddha Lounge on Mill Street, opened Osha Thai Kitchen & Bar on nearby Short Street. The sister restaurant has a menu of Thai favorites including pad Thai and pad ka pow as well as pan-Asian cuisine.

In warmer weather, the garage doors are open for sidewalk seating and the rooftop patio is lovely at night. Takeout also available.

▪ Osha Thai Kitchen & Bar, 107 W. Short St., open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. for dinner; Friday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday 5 to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Taco John’s

Finally! To the excitement of many, Taco John’s opened in late June in Lexington. Sort of. The Tex-Mex chain is actually in Brannon Crossing, but four more locations are coming over the next few years. Which is good because the drive-thru in Nicholasville is always jammed.

What’s the big deal? Fans rave about the Potato Oles, a kind of spicy Tater Tot, as well as burritos, street tacos, nachos, breakfast burritos and more.

▪ Taco John’s, 525 E. Brannon Rd. in Nicholasville, open daily 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

7 Brew

7 Brew is another Arkansas-based chain that’s colonizing Kentucky. The first location opened in May at 4265 Harrodsburg Rd. with another coming to Richmond Road next to Slim Chickens and in Versailles.

This coffee kiosk is drive-thru only, with a variety of iced and hot coffee drinks, plus chillers, shakes, teas, smoothies, infused sparkling waters and energy drinks. There also is a kids’ menu and seasonal drinks.

▪ 7 Brew, 4265 Harrodsburg Rd, open Monday-Thursday 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Georgie’s Social House

Georgie’s Social House is a former longtime deli that has come back to life as a downtown watering hole. It’s across from Lexington’s courthouses and has modern feel with mini garage door-style windows and sidewalk seating.

It offers craft cocktails that allude to famous Georges including Clooney, Lucas and Michael. Georgie’s also has charcuterie boards and a few other “noshes.”

▪ Georgie’s Social House, 161 N. Limestone, open Wednesday-Friday 4 p.m. to late-night, Saturday-Sunday noon to late-night, Georgieslexington.com.

Donut World

Owner Brandon Khum opened this new bakery in the Meadowthorpe neighborhood in April and serves a variety of doughnuts, bagels, cookies and more, all baked fresh daily.

Besides baked goods, Donut World has croissant breakfast sandwiches and smoothies.

▪ Donut World, 1395 W. Main St., open daily 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Main Event

If you’re looking for big-time fun, Main Event is the kind of place where grown-ups can play just like kids. The entertainment venue opened in March with a floor of arcade games with a zipline overhead.

There’s also a bowling alley, laser tag and a restaurant inside where you can get burgers, pizza, appetizers and cocktails. You can schedule a party here complete with food and yes, you can earn game tickets to use toward a huge room of prizes.

▪ Main Event Entertainment, 240 Canary Rd., open Monday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight; mainevent.com/lexington

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint

Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint (yes, the one without lettuce, tomato or ranch dressing but still somehow a huge success) joined the North Limestone dining lineup in March.

It’s in the former Oscar Diggs space, which used to be Merit Furniture. But the place got a cool new square bar inside to go with a menu of American Wagyu beef specialty burgers such as the Dr. Gonzo with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized Guinness onions, applewood smoked bacon and Swiss cheese.

There is only one non-burger on the menu, the Frankie Brady, which is a “grilled cheese” made with housemade mac ‘n’ cheese and barbecue potato chips.

There’s lots of beer, though: More than 100 local, domestic and foreign varieties. If you check off 100 on their list you can join the Notch Club, which comes with its own shirt and perks.

▪ Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, 155 N. Limestone, open daily 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Jackbrownsjoint.com.

Maple Street Biscuits

Maple Street Biscuits opened on Nicholasville Road in March. The breakfast chain, owned by Cracker Barrel since 2019, has a menu of “comfort food with a modern twist,” such as gourmet biscuit sandwiches like the Squawking Goat, with battered chicken strips, toasted goat cheese and scratch-made pepper jelly.

There also are four versions of biscuits and gravy as well as waffles, “frittaffles” (baked omelets) and grits, as well as inventive sides such as a three-layer hashbrown “cake” with potato hashbrowns, cheddar cheese, a fried egg and gravy. Maple Street also has coffee drinks, Mason Jar Mimosas and other drinks.

▪ Maple Street Biscuit, 2270 Nicholasville Rd., open daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., maplestreetbiscuits.com

Myriad Meadery

Myriad Meadery opened in February on National Avenue, across from Mirror Twin Brewing. If you’re new to mead, try a flight, which will give you taste of the variety of flavors this ancient alcoholic drink can bring to the palate.

Myriad also has a full cocktail bar and teams up with food trucks. Or you can order pizza from Rolling Oven over at Mirror Twin.

▪ Myriad Meadery, 732 National Ave., Monday-Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Friday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Myriadmeadery.com